‘New’ Arsenal still looked like last season’s model

The front page of The Gooner fanzine captured the mood. Unai Emery, with a straight back and arms folded, looked imperious. “New coach, new approach,” it said underneath.

That word “new” was everywhere. There was a banner hanging down from the second tier with a picture of Emery and the phrase “a new chapter”. And then the referee’s whistle signalled the start of the new era and it was the same old Arsenal — last season’s model — as well as the same old Manchester City.

Against different opponents — almost any other opponents — it might well have been a different story, but at least Emery knows what he is up against. The gulf in quality between these teams looked enormous, just as it